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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055 (2026)

Compensation and expenses of appointed counsel

✓ current as of May 2026
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      135.055 Compensation and expenses of appointed counsel. (1) Counsel appointed pursuant to ORS 135.045 or 135.050 shall be paid fair compensation for representation in the case:

      (a) By the county, subject to the approval of the governing body of the county, in a proceeding in a county or justice court.

      (b) By the executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission from funds available for the purpose, in a proceeding in a circuit court.

      (2) Except for counsel appointed pursuant to contracts or counsel employed by the Oregon Public Defense Commission, compensation payable to appointed counsel under subsection (1) of this section:

      (a) In a proceeding in a county or justice court may not be less than $30 per hour.

      (b) In a proceeding in a circuit court is subject to the applicable compensation established under ORS 151.216.

      (3)(a) A person determined to be eligible for appointed counsel is entitled to necessary and reasonable fees and expenses for investigation, preparation and presentation of the case for trial, negotiation and sentencing. The person or the counsel for the person shall upon written request secure preauthorization to incur fees and expenses that are necessary and reasonable in the investigation, preparation and presentation of the case and that require preauthorization under a policy of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, including but not limited to travel, photocopying or other reproduction of documents, necessary costs associated with obtaining the attendance of witnesses for the defense, investigator fees and expenses, expert witness fees and expenses and fees for interpreters and assistive communication devices necessary for the purpose of communication between counsel and a client or witness in the case. Preauthorization to incur a fee or expense does not guarantee that a fee or expense incurred pursuant to the preauthorization will be determined to be necessary or reasonable when the fee or expense is submitted for payment.

      (b) In a county or justice court, the request must be in the form of a motion to the court. The motion must be accompanied by a supporting affidavit that sets out in detail the purpose of the requested expenditure, the name of the service provider or other recipient of the funds, the dollar amount of the requested expenditure that may not be exceeded without additional authorization and the date or dates during which the service will be rendered or events will occur for which the expenditure is requested.

      (c) In a circuit court, the request must be in the form and contain the information that is required by the policies, procedures, standards and guidelines of the Oregon Public Defense Commission. If the executive director of the commission denies a request for preauthorization to incur fees and expenses subject to a preauthorization requirement, the person making the request may appeal the decision to the presiding judge of the circuit court. The presiding judge has final authority to preauthorize incurring fees and expenses under this paragraph.

      (d) Entitlement under subsection (7) of this section to payment for fees and expenses in circuit court is subject to the policies, procedures, standards and guidelines adopted under ORS 151.216. Entitlement to payment of fees and expenses subject to a preauthorization requirement is dependent upon obtaining preauthorization from the court, if the case is in county or justice court, or from the executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, if the case is in circuit court, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection and in the policies, procedures, standards and guidelines adopted under ORS 151.216. Fees and expenses shall be paid:

      (A) By the county, in respect to a proceeding in a county or justice court.

      (B) By the executive director of the commission from funds available for the purpose, in respect to a proceeding in a circuit court.

      (C) By the city, in respect to a proceeding in municipal court.

      (4) Upon completion of all services by the counsel of a person determined to be eligible for appointed counsel, the counsel shall submit a statement of all necessary and reasonable fees and expenses of investigation, preparation and presentation and, if counsel was appointed by the court, a statement of all necessary and reasonable fees and expenses for legal representation, supported by appropriate receipts or vouchers and certified by the counsel to be true and accurate.

      (5) In a county or justice court, the total fees and expenses payable under this section must be submitted to the court by counsel or other providers and are subject to the review of the court. The court shall certify that such amount is fair reimbursement for fees and expenses for representation in the case as provided in subsection (6) of this section. Upon certification and any verification as provided under subsection (6) of this section, the amount of the fees and expenses approved by the court and not already paid shall be paid by the county.

      (6) In a county or justice court, the court shall certify to the administrative authority responsible for paying fees and expenses under this section that the amount for payment is reasonable and that the amount is properly payable out of public funds.

      (7) In a circuit court, the total fees and expenses payable under this section must be submitted to and are subject to review by the executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission. The executive director of the commission shall determine whether the amount is necessary, reasonable and properly payable from public funds for fees and expenses for representation in the case as provided by the policies, procedures, standards and guidelines of the commission. The executive director of the commission shall pay the amount of the fees and expenses determined necessary, reasonable and properly payable out of public funds. The court shall provide any information identified and requested by the executive director of the commission as needed for audit, statistical or any other purpose pertinent to ensure the proper disbursement of state funds or pertinent to the provision of appointed counsel compensated at state expense.

      (8) If the executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission denies, in whole or in part, fees and expenses submitted for review and payment, the person who submitted the payment request may appeal the decision to the presiding judge of the circuit court. The presiding judge or the designee of the presiding judge shall review the executive director’s decision for abuse of discretion. The decision of the presiding judge or the designee of the presiding judge is final.

      (9) The following may not be disclosed to the district attorney prior to the conclusion of a case:

      (a) Requests and administrative or court orders for preauthorization to incur fees and expenses subject to a preauthorization requirement in the investigation, preparation and presentation of the case; and

      (b) Billings for such fees and expenses submitted by counsel or other providers.

      (10) Notwithstanding subsection (9) of this section, the total amount of moneys determined to be necessary and reasonable for fees and expenses subject to a preauthorization requirement may be disclosed to the district attorney at the conclusion of the trial in the circuit court.

      (11) As used in this section unless the context requires otherwise, “counsel” includes a legal advisor appointed under ORS 135.045. [Formerly 135.330; 1979 c.867 §1; 1981 s.s. c.3 §§122,123; 1985 c.502 §19; 1985 c.710 §2; 1987 c.606 §4; 1987 c.803 §§14,14a; 1989 c.1053 §2; 1991 c.724 §25; 1991 c.750 §8; 1993 c.33 §297; 1995 c.677 §1; 1995 c.781 §39; 1997 c.761 §9; 1999 c.163 §8; 1999 c.583 §1; 2001 c.962 §§26,107; 2003 c.449 §§5,43; 2023 c.281 §7]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 57 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2021 · leading case: State v. Rogers, 836 P.2d 1308 (Or. 1992).
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State v. Rogers, 836 P.2d 1308 (Or. 1992). · cites it 8× “He wanted the poll in order to gauge the extent of pretrial publicity in Clackamas County about him and his connection to the Molalla Forest killings and the Smith homicide, in order to determine whether to seek severance of the six indictments for trial or whether he could…”
State v. Arms, 653 P.2d 1004 (Or. Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 16× “The issue is whether a defendant who is acquitted on a criminal charge may be ordered, under ORS 135.055(6), to pay all or part of the costs incurred by the county for defendant’s appointed counsel.”
State v. Cunningham, 985 P.2d 827 (Or. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 8× “On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to seal the records in question, because ORS 135.055 provides, in pertinent part, that indigent defense expense records “shall not be disclosed to the district attorney prior to the conclusion of the…”
Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985). “1983); Ore. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(4) (1983); Commonwealth v.”
Fitch v. Belshaw, 581 F. Supp. 273 (D. Or. 1984). · cites it 9× “They now seek a summary judgment that the Oregon recoupment statute, ORS 135.055(6) (1981), is unconstitutional under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.”
State v. Pendergrapht, 284 P.3d 573 (Or. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 2× ““(2) Costs that may be included in a money award under this section include a reasonable attorney fee for counsel appointed to represent the person and a reasonable amount for expenses authorized under ORS 135.055. *** “(3) The court may not require a person to pay costs under…”
Smith v. Dept. of Corr. (A170818), 496 P.3d 1073 (Or. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 3× “In support of his assignments of error, plaintiff cites a number of decisions that rely on a repealed statute, for- mer ORS 21.”
State v. Langley, 839 P.2d 692 (Or. 1992). · cites it 2× “" ORS 135.055(3). The appropriate inquiry is whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining what was necessary and proper in the circumstances of this case.”
State v. West, 279 P.3d 354 (Or. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 5× “*205 Under ORS 135.055, an indigent defendant is entitled to funding for an expert witness if he can show that the expense is reasonable and necessary to his defense.”
Bacote v. Johnson, 35 P.3d 1019 (Or. 2001). · cites it 2× “505, which include a reasonable attorney fee and a reasonable amount of expenses authorized under ORS 135.055. ORS 151.505(3) provides that costs under the statute do not include costs imposed and paid under a previous order under ORS 151.”
Davis v. Armenakis, 948 P.2d 327 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “680, the circuit court shall determine and allow, as provided in ORS 135.055, the amount of expenses of petitioner and compensation for the services of appointed counsel in the proceedings in the circuit court.”
Matter of Grandy, 627 P.2d 895 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 4× “The Court of Appeals shall also determine, as provided in ORS 135.055, and allow compensation for counsel appointed under this section.”
Show all 57 citing cases →
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(1) — 2 cases
Davis v. Armenakis, 948 P.2d 327 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “680, the circuit court shall determine and allow, as provided in ORS 135.055, the amount of expenses of petitioner and compensation for the services of appointed counsel in the proceedings in the circuit court.”
Matter of Grandy, 627 P.2d 895 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “The Court of Appeals shall also determine, as provided in ORS 135.055, and allow compensation for counsel appointed under this section.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(2) — 5 cases
State v. Acosta, 597 P.2d 1282 (Or. Ct. App. 1979).
State v. Glover, 577 P.2d 91 (Or. Ct. App. 1978).
State v. Rovles, 598 P.2d 1249 (Or. Ct. App. 1979).
State v. Gleason, 785 P.2d 376 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
State v. Hammond, 600 P.2d 443 (Or. Ct. App. 1979).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(3) — 6 cases
State v. Rogers, 836 P.2d 1308 (Or. 1992). “He wanted the poll in order to gauge the extent of pretrial publicity in Clackamas County about him and his connection to the Molalla Forest killings and the Smith homicide, in order to determine whether to seek severance of the six indictments for trial or whether he could…”
State v. Langley, 839 P.2d 692 (Or. 1992). “" ORS 135.055(3). The appropriate inquiry is whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining what was necessary and proper in the circumstances of this case.”
State v. West, 279 P.3d 354 (Or. Ct. App. 2012). “*205 Under ORS 135.055, an indigent defendant is entitled to funding for an expert witness if he can show that the expense is reasonable and necessary to his defense.”
Matter of Grandy, 627 P.2d 895 (Or. Ct. App. 1981). “The Court of Appeals shall also determine, as provided in ORS 135.055, and allow compensation for counsel appointed under this section.”
State v. Gleason, 785 P.2d 376 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(3)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Cunningham, 985 P.2d 827 (Or. Ct. App. 1999). “On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to seal the records in question, because ORS 135.055 provides, in pertinent part, that indigent defense expense records “shall not be disclosed to the district attorney prior to the conclusion of the…”
Petersen v. Palmateer, 19 P.3d 364 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(4) — 5 cases
Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985). “1983); Ore. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(4) (1983); Commonwealth v.”
State v. Berry, 707 P.2d 638 (Or. Ct. App. 1985).
State v. Pruett, 770 P.2d 70 (Or. Ct. App. 1989).
State v. Harris, 615 P.2d 363 (Or. Ct. App. 1980).
State v. Underwood, 756 P.2d 72 (Or. Ct. App. 1988).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(5) — 4 cases
State v. Heston, 704 P.2d 541 (Or. Ct. App. 1985).
State v. Harris, 615 P.2d 363 (Or. Ct. App. 1980).
State v. Saddler, 688 P.2d 428 (Or. Ct. App. 1984).
State v. Belles, 683 P.2d 1027 (Or. Ct. App. 1984).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.055(6) — 7 cases
State v. Arms, 653 P.2d 1004 (Or. Ct. App. 1982). “The issue is whether a defendant who is acquitted on a criminal charge may be ordered, under ORS 135.055(6), to pay all or part of the costs incurred by the county for defendant’s appointed counsel.”
Fitch v. Belshaw, 581 F. Supp. 273 (D. Or. 1984). “They now seek a summary judgment that the Oregon recoupment statute, ORS 135.055(6) (1981), is unconstitutional under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.”
State v. Nichols, 683 P.2d 565 (Or. Ct. App. 1984).
State Ex Rel. Juv. Dep't v. Chapter, 681 P.2d 1171 (Or. Ct. App. 1984).
State v. Barnes, 648 P.2d 1306 (Or. Ct. App. 1982).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.